One-hundred-and-twenty farms, 40 pieces of strategic land parcels and 341 council-owned shops will be released by the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) as part of the province’s rapid land release programme.
Speaking at the annual budget meeting in Eden Park on May 24, executive mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina said the City would heed Gauteng premier David Makhura’s call for rapid land release.
“The CoE will release 120 farms to our farmers; we will release 40 pieces of strategic land parcels for development for those who qualify through proper and legal means; and we will release 341 council-owned shops that must be given to our people for them to upgrade and trade,” Masina said.
The City will also release 89 sites to “credible churches” so they can have land to conduct religious activity. The city is also availing land to the human settlements department to build, within the current term of government, 100 000 houses and provide 59 000 serviced stands.
“We have taken a firm decision as the Ekurhuleni Council that all council-owned land in CoE must be habitable, must have all social amenities and should be given to our people free of charge,” Masina said.
He said land reform must take place in an orderly and non-violent manner. Hence a bill will be tabled in Parliament to enable a constitutional and legal process of land expropriation without compensation.
Earlier, finance MMC Doctor Xhakaza tabled a R44.4 billion budget, the second highest budget of a metro in Gauteng, which further cemented the pro-poor focus of the City.
“We revealed a clear framework of sustenance and service delivery improvement; transformation of society and the City; and our ambition to be the preferred destination for investment and growth – where the poor and the rich can co-exist in a mutually beneficial environment, where they are empowered to realise their dreams and aspirations.
“We have tabled a very progressive budget that can only make our City a better place to live, play and invest in. Our people have heard how we are going to spend their money on turning their lives around. After all, the budget, as always, is informed by their views which we acquire through the IDP and budget consultation processes,” Xhakaza said.
